Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Dec 14 (IANS) Congress MP from Vijayawada L. Rajagopal was taken into preventive custody by the police at the airport here soon after he landed Monday to launch an indefinite fast to oppose the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He was released later.
Tension prevailed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad on the city outskirts as Rajagopal’s supporters tried to resist the arrest. Some supporters of the MP were also taken into custody. The MP was arrested under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The MP, who was holding a national flag in his hands, was taken to the Pahadi Shareef police station, where his supporters staged a sit-in to protest the arrest.

The industrialist, whose Lanco Group of companies has huge business interests in Hyderabad, is against the central government’s decision to give separate statehood to Telangana region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

He had earlier announced his plans to go on a fast at the state assembly while the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), student bodies and Congress leaders from Telangana region had threatened to stop him from doing so.

“I don’t know why I was stopped by police. I was going to meet the chief minister and legislators,” Rajagopal told reporters at the police station.

Police said there was no permission for the fast. It had mobilised a large number of security personnel, including from the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), to arrest him and his supporters.

As tension was mounting in the city following TRS’ allegations that Rajagopal was bringing hired goons from Vijayawada to create trouble in Hyderabad, police Sunday night raided several hotels and lodges in the city and arrested several supporters of the MP.

Rajagopal later met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at his camp office and the latter advised him not to precipitate the matters by going on fast.

After the meeting with Rosaiah, Rajagopal said he would not allow the state’s division as this would weaken the state of Telugus and affect its bargaining power at the centre.

He said he would attend a meeting of legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions to chalk out the future course of action.

The MP’s arrest sparked protests in the Andhra region. Protesters blocked roads at several places and forced shops and business establishments to down shutters.

Police have also intensified checking of all vehicles coming from Vijayawada to Hyderabad. On Sunday night, at least a dozen Congress leaders supporting Rajagopal were stopped and sent back to Vijayawada.